Refrigerating cabinet



May 2, 1944.

G. D. REINHARDT y REFRIGERATING CABINET- Filed Sept. 28, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 2 1944 G.. D. REINHARDT REFRIGERATING CABINET Filed sept. 28', 1940 4 sheets-sheet 2 May 2, 1944- G. D. REINHARD-r 2,347,642

Y REFRIGEBAHNG CABINET Filed Sept. 28; 1940 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wurz/WM 5150/355 QE/A/HA 77 y 5MM www@ May 2,1944- G. D. REINHARDT 2,347,642

REFRIGERATING lCABINET 4 sheetsshest 4 Filed Sept. 28

improved Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED vSTATES PATENT y FFICE aarmoaaa'rmo CABINET George D. Reinhardt, San Antonio, Tex. Application September 28, 1940, Serial No. 358,897

(Cl. GZ-lol) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in refrigerating cabinets.

One object of this invention -is to provide an refrigerating cabinet particularly adapted for handling trays or molds containing material to be cooled or frozen. j

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigerating cabinet having means,

for supporting trays or molds containing material to be refrigerated, and for maintaining said trays or molds in spaced relation; whereby'the introduction and removal of said trays into and from the cabinet is facilitated.

Still another object of. this invention is to provide an improved refrigerating cabinet wherein the trays or molds are spaced from one another and from the walls of the cabinet so that a proper circulation of the refrigerating medium is assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigerating cabinet having facilities for allowing the trays or molds to drain after their immersion in the refrigerating medium; and wherein there is provided an auxiliary refrigerating compartment separate from y the means for supporting the ymolds.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigerating cabinet wheref in the refrigerating medium is forced to follow a tortuous path as it flows around the trays or molds; and wherein means are provided for facil..

itating the removal o'f trays from the refrigerating zone, whereby jolting and jostling of the trays is avoided.

, Still another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide an improved refrigerating cabinet wherein refrigerating zone to bolster the hydraulic head i of the medium in the intermediate portionof by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which an example of the' invention is shown, and

wherein: l Figure 1 is aplan view of a refrigerating cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse. sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken on the line I-I o f Figure l,

Figure 5 is a plan view of a refrigerating cabinet constructed in accordance with a modifica-` tion of the invention,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 6, and

Figure 9 `is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a cabinet suitably constructed so as to contain the apparatus described hereinafter. 'I'his cabinet may l made of wood or any desirable material.- Located withinV the cabinet. and spaced therefrom, is a water-tight shell or liner il which may be fabricated from metal by welding, or by any other suitable means. The space between the cabinet and the shell is lled with an insulating material i2, and pipes i3 which may be of any desired type are mounted so as to extend longitudinally in the lower and middle portions from a header I6 which connects to the bottom portion of the shell i5. Thus, a circuit is completed through the coils i3 including the shell- It. The liner ii is iilled with a suitable liquid refrigerating medium which may be a salt or calcium chloride brine or any other suitable solu4 tion, said liquid being forcibly circulated over the coils I3 and through the interior of the cabinet. A horizontal support or deck I1 is mounted vlongitudinally within the upper portion of the cabinet and has one side adjacent the side of the cabinet. and is so situated as to lie beneath the level of the surface of the refrigerating liquid and above the coils I3. The support I1 has longi4 tudinally disposedguide rails Il welded, or otherwise suitably mounted, on its upper surface, said guide rails serving to guide containers ox' trays (not shown), containing material bto `be frozen, along the surface of the support i1 and to keep said trays in alinement thereon. These guide rails constitute longitudinal channels. In addiextends transversely of said liner.

l plate 23 serves to space the trays from the end sertion and removal of the trays mentioned hereinbefore and is provided with rectangular open-4 ings 2li in the lower portion of the ramp 19,said openings lying beneath the surface of the refrigtion, the rails serve to keep the trays spaced from` through the coils i3. A vertical shield plate I5' is positioned upon the deck l1 so as to enclose the shell i5 and prevent`therefrigerating liquid from passing downwardly about said shell.

'I'he cabinet is simple in its operation. The pump 29 positively circulates the refrigerating liquid over the coils I3, up through the openings 23 and 2i, and along the deck i1 so as to refrigerating liquid and servingto permit the free circulation of said liquid. Additional'circular openings 2I, formed in the ramp I3, adjacent the openings, complement the action of said'openings in facilitating the circulation of the refrigerating medium.

A horizontaly platform 22 extends outwardly from the outer end of theramp I9, being supported by suitable braces 23 secured to the cabinet I0. The guide rails I8 extend throughout the length of the ramp il and the platform 22.

Trays which have beensubmerged-in the refrig.

eratingmedium may be placed upon the platform to allow the medium to drain therefrom and ow back into the liner Il.

Vertical guide fins 24 are provided at the end ofthe deck I 1 opposite the end provided with" the ramp I9. The ilns 24 are in alinement with the guide rails I3 and extend from said rails to the end of the liner II, as is' shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each of the fins 24 is provided with a central opening 25 to allow the circulation of the refrigerating liquid. -A buffer plate 26, having a semi-circular crosssection,'is secured to the end of the liner adjacent the uns 24, and The buffer of the liner so that the refrigerating liquid circulatesgfreely on all sides ,of said trays. Adjacent theisupport or deck i1, and longi- 1 tudinally disposed between one longitudinal side thereof and the side of the cabinet, is Ian elongated, horlzontal, dry chamber 21. The chamber 21 has its bottom surface ina plane slightly below the bottom of the deck i1 (Figure 3) but is liquid tight so` that it constitutes a cold dry chamber. This chamber does not extend the entire length of the cabinet I 0, but terminates short of the end of the cabinet. Adjacent the end of said chamber 21, a sump 28 is located (Figure 1). A

The trays are spaced from one another and from 4the walls of the liner Il by the guide rails I8 and the buffer plate 26, so that a proper circulation of the refrigerating medium among and around said trays is assured. Materia1 which has been removed from the trays maybe placed in the dry chamber 21 for further refrigeration.

In Figures 5, 6, 'I and 8 of the drawings, there is shown a modification of the invention. In this form of the invention, there is provided the cabinet I0, the liner lland the insulation I2 of the first form, described hereinbefore. In addition, the modified form of the invention includes the coils I3, the header i4, and the accumulato` shell I5. A horizontal support or deck 34 is mounted longitudinally Within the' upper portion of the The deck 34 extends completely across the cabinet I0, and from-the left-hand end of said cabinet toda point spaced from the right-handl end Y thereof. An elongate, rectangular opening 35 is provided in the deck at the left-hand end thereof. A smaller opening 36 is provided in the deck at a point intermediate its ends and near one side thereof, said point being nearer to the righthand end than to the left-hand end of. the cabinet.

The accumulator shell i5 is positioned at the right end of the cabinet I0 in the space between the end of the cabinet and the deck 34. A sump 31 and a pump k38, similar to the sump 28 and the pump 29, described in the first form of this invention, are also positioned between the deck 34 and the right-hand end of the cabinet. The

' ing 43, formed in the partition 42, allows the circulating pump 29 is vertically mounted in the sump for the purpose of circulating the refrigerating liquid, and consists of a plurality of propellerblades 30 mounted on a shaft 3i, which shaft may be rotated by any suitable means such as an electric motor 32, as shown in Figure 4.

-The propeller blades 33 are rotatable within a collar 33 and, as shown, are arranged so as to force or direct the cooling liquid in a downward direction.

Between the pump 29 and the end of the cabinet l0 i" mounted -an elongate, cylindrical, accumulator shell I5. This shell is )similar to the type of shell which has been described in detail in my Patent No. 2,117,506, dated May 17, 1938, and will not be described herein. Any suitable similar type of accumulator shell may be utilized. The shell serves in circulating the refrigerating-liquid the deck 34 in a right-hand direction. From the deck, the liquid iiows through the .opening 43.

in the partition 42 and into the sump 31, to be picked up by the pump. 38. It will be noted in the drawings (Figure 5), that the opening 35 is considerably larger than the opening 36, so that the majority of the refrigerating liquid iiows through the former opening'. If the opening 36 `were omitted, there would be a considerable gradient in liquid level between the left-hand end and the right-hand end of the cabinet. This is a condition which is not impractical, but ls unde- `verse path asi itvener'ge'e ffif 'an'dfis turned' through 180 4., esima enable due to the peesibmtyefme refnsersung liquidi'iowingover the topo! the tra!! and ccntaminating the contents thereof.` Since, dueto the action of the `pump 8l, there is a` hydrody .namic head betweentl'iefrefrigerating liquid below the ,deck I4 and the liquid above said deck,

.a sizable stream will nowV thrcugh the opening 36, This stream bolstersthe quantity of liquid present at this point, and reduces the iluid levelv gradient between the two ends of the deck. whereby said iluid level more nearly approximates ahorizontal plane.- i .Y

1 Severaltypes of bailles are employed in this form' of the invention to cause the refrigerating liquid to follow a tortuous path, whereby the trays are eillciently cooledby the reirigerating ward the sump il emerges from .between the last few bailes". By means oi' the variousv bailles, hereinbefore set forth, the refrigerating `liquid is caused to follow a tortuous path kas itjilows from one end to the other of the deck 34, ',whereby the trays are thoroughly and efilciently-,cooled by the liquid and the formation oi' stagnant spots or eddies is prevented.

An elongatedrainsheet 54 extends .throughout thelength of the deck 34, and is secured tothe vSide of the cabinet above the liner Il. The sheet liquid. A plurality of spaced, -verticalbamesll extend transversely of the cabinet above the deck 34 throughout its length. l Each oi the bames 4l,

has its .lower edge secure-dto the deck by some suitable means, and has one end secured to` one e side of the cabinet. The baiiles project above the housing. and'may, if desired, havetheir corners rounded (Figures 7. and 8). for reasons of safety. The baille;` extend toa point spaced from the other side of the cabinet, and have 'their lower corners, adjacent the deck, provided with rectangular openings or notches 44. The notches 48 provide additional flowing space for the' re- `frigerating liquid, while the larger upper portion of the bailles tend to maintain the surface ci' the l liquid relatively free of eddies. Y

,The containers or trays (not shown) are placed between the bailies 4l for cooling. A pair yoi! vsemi-circular, ilat bumper disks 41 are secured to each side of each of the bellies.` The disks 41 are mounted vertically, and are spaced from one another so that the trays are prevented from contacting the ballies directly. This feature insures the correct placing oi' the trays, softhat proper circulation is hadon allsides ot said trays. i

One ci the baiiles 45 lextends completely across the deck I4. This banle overlies the opening 34 and is identified in the drawings by the numeral 44. The baille-4l Ais provided-with `notches 40,

. similar to thenot'ches 4G, and` disks l0, 'similar to the disks 41. The baille 4l causes" the reirigerating liquid to change its direction of iiow g .as will be hereinafterdescribed.' v y f A plurality of hat, vertical, trlangularly-shalped baiiles 5I are secured to the deck I4 in the space between the outer "endslofl the balies "and the 54 has its outer edgecurved upwardly, and its inner edge curved downwardly, whereby trays may be 'placed thereupon to drain and fthe drained liquid caused to return to the decir 34. If desired, the sheet may have a transverse trough ii formed near one end so as to facilitate the return of drained liquid to the deck. rAn arcuate wire member it (Figure '1) extends upwardly from `the deck to4 theinner edge of the vsheet 54 between each pair of bafiies 45. `The members serve to guide the trays as they are placed upon the deck 'and removedtherefrom, and prevent the -trays from catching beneath the edge of the sheetjl as they are being re-V moved.

In eachof these two formsof the invention, there is provided a refrigerating cabinet which assures the correct placingof the trays containing material to be refrigerated, and provides `within the casing below and above the deck and along` said channels in intimate contact with the articles supported thereomsaid channels being spaced from each other, a heat exchanging f apparatus within the vbasing including a plurality oi coils which extend longitudinally within the sise of the cabinet' le, 'et the,rigid-limiti,ena

thereof. .Aswiu benoten inr'isure s rthe drawzings, lthe bailes Blfareplaced ai;y an angle crap- .1:nxnrix'rmtely 45 with f respect to the side of' 4the cabinet,` s 'that liquidilwing' ltransversely ci" the cabinet between the "bames'jsl: iowardseid 1 side, will be dfiected'towarda lonitildilpath.

Additional ballesf'l," similar to thelbamesl, are

t placed at 'angle *or approximately90". vwith f respect to the bemes tl that the liquid; cie-` ileepteeir longitudineuy byguierbamee ,si be directed backfbetweenfthegbaiiles 45'as is 'shown byl the `arrows in Figure 5;' l "inf manner, lthe reirigerating liquid 1 is ca to; take' af 'ttreversed as it flows do placed at a similar angle, .direct the liquid tothat ltslpatb is reaching `the baille 4l), the liquid is again. caused to frevers'e its piis'tlr` and'jis augmented -l byf] the liquid flowing upwardly l through the opening'lt. Y Furthery hamer?, similar to the vbullies Il, andv below the deck, and means for admitting a heat' exchange agent Ato" said coils.

2'.' A heat exchange ca Vinet including; un elon- 'este outer'casins, a vlomiritllldirielV deck within the upper portionof `the casing and jarranged to receive the," "articles to f undergov heat exchangeopenings' "in said deck to"allow"the Ufree'circulation of a heat exchanging liquid over :faul deck; means fer circulating the? heat, ex- 'l changing liquid4 within L the "casing and around ofthe ueek'fintof intimate, ontactwith the `artieies supported thereon, 'means for spacing sa'id 1er- "change aseritto saidfcoils. "j 3.' `Aheat;exchange cab et ticles from,l one another and irom'tliwalls o! thins `whereby lthe1khatlef shsins liquid my 'lrculete properly; t e. heat exchanging Lapvarswswithin theeesinsfiheludins .a plurality V:oi coils which extendlflongitudinally within 'the using and. means ij forjii admitting" ai helga exaus.. issieudinal e' deck `rlisl'aos'ed 1lfifth@diesermiared .to reaeiveihe articles@ edrgeheat, ,eX-

` lichange, .fnner'iings,` in deck .toallow the free circulation of a heat exchanging liquid over said deck, longitudinal guide `rails mounted on the l casing including a plurality o f coils which extendlongitudinally within the casing, and means for admitting a heat exchange agent to said coils.

4. A heat exchange cabinet including, an elongate outer casing, a longitudinal deck disposed,

within the upper portion of the casing and arranged toreceive the articles to undergo heat exchange, openings in said deck to allow the free circulation of heat exchanging liquid over said f deck, transverse bailles terminating short of one side of the casing mounted on the upper surface of the deck for the purpose of keeping the articles supported on the deck in spaced relation to one another and for causing the heat exchanging liquid to follow a tortuous path, means for circulating the heat exchanging liquid within the casing and around the deck into intimate contact with the articles supported thereon, a heat exchanging apparatus within the casing including a plu rality of coils which extend longitudinally within the casing, and means for admitting a heat exchange agent to said coils.

5. A heat exchange cabinet including, an elon gate outer casing, a longitudinal deck disposed within the upper portion. of the casing. and -arranged to receive the articles to undergo heat exchange, means for circulating a heat exchanging liquid within the casing and longitudinally under. and over the deck in intimate contact with the articles supported thereon, and a dry storage chamber disposed longitudinally of the deck-between one side of the deck and the cabinet, said chamber extending above and below the deck, whereby -said chamber is subjected to treatment by said-liquid.-

6. A heat exchangecabinet including, an elongate outer casing, a longitudinal deckdisposed within the upper portion of the casing and ar- 1 ranged to receive the articles to undergo heat exchange, openings in said deck to allow the free circulationoi a heat exchanging liquid over said deck, means for circulating the heat exchanging liquid within the casing and around the deck into intimate contact with the articles supported thereon, a heat exchanging apparatus within the leasing including a plurality of coils which extend ilengitudinally within'the casing. means for admitting aheat exchange agent to said coils, and a temperature treatment chamber .disposed between one side of the deck and the cabinet, said chamber. beingl disposed so as to have itslower side beneath the heat exchanging liquid level, whereby said chamber is subjected to treatment by said liquid.

'7. A heat exchange cabinet including, an elonv gate outer casing, a longitudinal deck disposed within the upper portion oi the casing and arranged to receive the articles to undergo heat exchange, openlngs'in said deck to allow the free circulation of a heat exchanging liquid over said deck, longitudinal guide rails mounted on the upper surface of the deck for the purpose of keeping the articles supported on the deck in alinement thereon, means for circulating the heat exchanging liquid within the casing and around the deck into intimate contact with the articles sup- 8. A heat exchange cabinet including, an elongate outer casing,.a longitudinal deck disposed within the upper portion of the casing and ar-` ranged to receive the articles to undergo heat 13 exchangexopenings in said deck to allow the free circulation of a heat exchanging liquidover saidv deck, means for circulating the heat exchanging liquid within the casing and around the deck into intimate contact with the articles supported zo thereon, means for spacing said articles from one another and from the wallsof the casing whereby the heat exchanging liquid may circulate properly, a'heat exchanging apparatus within the casing including a plurality of coils ,which extend longitudinally within the casing, means for admitting a heat exchange agent to said coils, and a tem- 30 the heat exchanging liquid level, whereby said chamber is subjected to treatment by said liquid.

9. A heat exchange cabinet including, an elongate outer casing, a longitudinal deck disposed within the upper portion. of the casing and arsa ,ranged to receive the articles to undergo heat exchange, openings in said deck to allow the free circulation of a heat exchanging liquid over said deck, longitudinal guide rails mounted on the upper surface bf thedeck for the purpose of keep- 40 ing the articles supported on the deck in alinement thereon, means for circulating the heat exchanging liquid within the casing and around the deck into intimate contact with the articles supported thereon, means for spacing the articles 45. from one end wall of said casing to maintain circulation at the adjacent ends ot the guides, a heat exchanging .apparatus within the y'casing including a plurality of coils which extend longitudinally within the casing, means for admitting a heat 5o exchange agent to said coils, and a temperature treatment chamber disposed between one side of I the deck and the cabinet, said chamber being disposed so as to have its lower side beneath the heat exchanging liquid level, whereby said chamber is subjected to treatment by said liquid.

10. A heat exchange cabinet including, an outer casing adapted to contain a h eat exchange liquid. an elongate imperforate deck disposed in the cabinet belowthe liquid level'thereof and-having a 1l. A heat exchange cabinet as set forth in claim 10, and a ramp` at one end 'of the deck for feeding articles to the channels.

7b GEORGE D. REINHARDT. 

